Dam



March 20, 1934.

A. NORDIN DAM Filed Oct.

Gum/MA;

Patented Mar. 20, I934 UNITE 33E PAT N. J., assignor to M.

H. Treadwell, Inc., New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 19,

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to movable gate structures for dams and particularly to sealing or packing devices therefor.

In its broader aspects the novel sealing mechanism which forms the subject matter of my invention is applicable to dams of various kinds, but it is particularly applicable to dams of the roller type in which the water impounding member comprises an elongated horizontally disposed cylinder together with a longitudinal shield or apron attached thereto. Movable gates of this character are usually provided with sealing means of one kind or another afiixed to the lower edges of the shields or aprons, which edges contact with the sills when the gates are lowered. Such a sealing means must be durable, effective in preventing the flow of water between the gate and the sill even where the cylindrical main portion of the gate springs slightly under the load applied 20 to it by the impounded water, and must permit, in

thecase of the roller type gate structure, movement of the sealing means past the sill in either direction as it is necessary that the gate structure be so designed that it may be either raised or lowered from the position which it occupies when the water channel is completely closed.

The present invention provides means for the accomplishment of all of these objects. While it is particularly useful in conjunction with water gates of the roller type, it is in its broader aspects, however, not limited in its application to gates of any particular specific design. In adapting the invention to various types of roller gates and gates of other types, the arrangement and design of its component elements may naturally be considerably modified without departure from the spiritand scope thereof.

' In the accompanying drawing one embodiment of the invention is set forth by way of example. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a water gate of the roller type, showing the improved water sealing means applied thereto; and

Figure 2 is a section through the lower edge of the longitudinal shield or apron which forms a part of such gate, showing the details or the sealing means.

The water impounding member or gate comprises essentially an elongated cylindrical member or drum to which at one point is secured one edge of the vertically curved longitudinally extending shield or apron 11, struts 12 extending from the rear face of this shield to the surface of the drum serving to rigidly brace the shield and securely hold it in the position shown. The

1932, Serial No. 638,635

gate structure also includes lateral packing plates 13 secured at its ends. Only one of these packing plates is shown, but it will be understood that these plates are positioned closely adjacent and parallel to the abutments between which the gate is positioned. A sill is indicated at 14, this sill being preferably formed of concrete or masonry with a metallic plate 15 positioned thereon to protect the masonry and form a permanent seating surface for the sealing member affixed to the lower horizontal edge of apron or shield 11.

The gate may occupy the position in which it is shown in full lines in Figure 1, the lower edge of the apron 11 being in contact with the sill. When in this position, the flow of water under the gate in the direction of the arrow A is prevented, it being understood that the arrow A points in the direction of normal flow of the stream along which the dam is located. From this position the gate may be either raised to some position such as indicated in dotted lines at 16 or lowered to some such position as indicated by the dotted lines at 17 by means wellknown in the art and which need not be specifically described. It thus appears that the sealing means positioned along the lower edge of the shield llshould, in this instance, have a capacity for not only forming an effective water seal between the gate and the sill when the gate is closed but should not interfere with the movements of the gate to its upper or lower positions.

The gate structure as a whole may be said to comprise two portions, a main portion which includes the drum l0 and that portion of the shield 11 which is rigidly connected to the drum by the struts 12, and a second portion 18, relatively narrow but coextensive in length with shield 11, which is hingedly connected to the lower edge of this shield. While I prefer to form the movable portion 18 of the gate as a relatively narrow longitudinally extending strip or plate, it may be considerably wider if desired. Secured to the shield 11 adjacent the lower edge thereof, and on the dry or downstream side, is a channel member 19, the web of which is disposed normally to the shield. Any suitable means or process may be employed for securing the channel in the position in which it is shown, for instance, rivets 20. It will be noted that rivets 20 also pass through and secure to the front or wet face of the shield 11 a plate 21, which plate projects downwardly beyond the lower edge of the shield proper and comprises a protecting member for the upper margin of the movable strip 18.

One of the hinges by means of which plate 18 is secured to the shield is shown in the drawing, this hinge comprising a member 22 secured to the plate 18 by a bolt 23 and a member 24 secured to the web of channel 19 by a bolt 25, members 22 and 24 being hingedly connected together by a pin 26. The series of securing bolts 23 and 25 are likewise employed to clamp to the channel 19 and plate 18, respectively, the margins of a flexible metal plate 27, preferably formed of non-corrodible metal such as stainless steel. It is the function of this plate to prevent the passage of water from the face or wet side of the gate to the rear thereof around the upper edge of plate 18, particularly when plate 18 has been rocked in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 2) about its supporting pins 25 through a small angle as occurs when the gate is in its fully closed position.

A cushion of rubber, fabric, or the like is indicated at 28, this cushion being secured to the face of the plate 18 by clamping blocks 29 and 29, respectively. It is the face of the cushioning member 28 which makes actual contact with the sill plate 15 when the gate is in closed position. A leaf spring is indicated at 30, and there are a number of these springs positioned preferably at equal intervals along the length of the gate structure. These springs are provided for the purpose of yieldably maintaining the movable plate 18 in its normal position, that is, the position in which it is shown in Figure 2, but to permit this plate to yield slightly when the cushion 28 contacts with the sill. The lower end of each spring is connected to a channel member 31 which is in turn rigidly secured to the lower portion of plate 18. The upper end of each spring is adjustably connected to the stationary portion 11 of the shield or apron, each such end being provided with an eyelet 32 to which a bolt 33 is connected, this bolt in turn being provided with adjusting nuts 34 adapted to bear against the face of a plate 35 through which the bolt extends, plate 35 being rigidly supported in spaced relationship to the shield 11.

The channel member 19 is provided with suitable apertures, one of which is indicated at 36, to receive springs 30, and associated with each of these apertures is a fulcrum plate 3'? against the inwardly directed rounded edge of which the side of the associated spring rests. Each plate 37 is suitably secured to channel member 19, as by welds indicated at 37'. Each spring, therefore, comprises essentially a yielding lever fulcrumed at or near its mid-point and adapted to apply very considerable force to the lower edge of plate 18, tending to rotate this plate to the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the upper edge of the plate abutting against the lower edge of the shield 11 and being thereby prevented from further movement in this direction of rotation. This is the normal position of the plate i. e., the position which the plate assumes in the event that no pressure is exerted against the front face of the same by reason of contact of the cushion 28 with sill plate 15.

The several sets of adjusting nuts 3% are turned to positions such that the springs are caused to exert a sufficient combined thrust against the lower edge of plate 18 to maintain the contact between the cushion 28 and sill plate 15 tight and firm even with a full head of water above the gate structure. When the gate structure is in such position, the plate 18 preferably occupies the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the springs being flexed somewhat as shown also by dotted lines. From this position it is easily possible to lower the gate structure to permit the outflow of water beneath the gate. in thi lowering operation, cushion 28 is removed from contact with sill plate 15, and the plate 18 assumes its normal position. In the event that it is desired to raise the roller gate structure, the cushion 28 will merely rub over the upper surface of plate 15 for a slight distance. When the gate is returned to lowered position, the cushion 28 will glide over the surface of plate 15 to its fully seated position, there being little frictional force opposing movement of the cushion 28 past or over the sill.

It is obvious that, in adapting the invention to other types of gates, it may be very considerably changed without departing from its spirit and scope. Various kinds of springs might be employed, and these springs might be attached. to the gate or water impounding member in various ways. That form of the invention illustrated therefore, to be taken by way of example only.

invention may be applied with only minor changes, and in some instances without change,

to gates of the pivoted type, known as tainter gates, and also to sliding gates, commonly designated stoney gates.

-slaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A gate structure for dams comprising, in combination, a horizontally extending water impounding mcmber adapted to be moved relatively to a horizontally extending stationary sill, said pounding member adapted to be moved relativelyto a horizontally extending stationary sill, said Gil member having a main portion and a sill engaging portion movably connected to the lower edge of the main portion, and a plurality of resilient elements extending across the joint between said portions and connected to both of said portions, said elementsnormally holding said portions in predetermined relationship but permitting movement of said sill engaging portion relatively to the main portion upon contact of the sill engaging portion with the sill.

3. A gate structure for dams comprising, in combination, a horizontally extending water impounding meniber adapted to be moved relatively to a horizontally extending stationary sill, said member having a main portion and a sill engaging portion movably connected to the lower edge of the main portion, and a plurality of leaf springs extending transversely across the joint between portions, a part of each spring being connected to the main portion and a part to the sill en aging portion, said springs normally holding combination, a horizontally extending water impounding member adapted to be moved relatively to a horizontally extending stationary sill, said member having a main portion and a sill engaging portion movably connected to the lower edge of the main portion, and a plurality of leaf springs extending transversely across the joint between said portions, said elements normally holding said portions in predetermined relationship but permitting movement of said sill engaging portion relatively to the main portion upon contact of the sill engaging portion with the sill,

each of said springs being secured at two points to said main portion and at a single point to said movable portion.

5. A gate structure for dams comprising, in combination, a horizontally extending water impounding member adapted to be moved relatively to a horizontally extending stationary sill, said member having a main portion and a sill engaging portion movably connected to the lower edge of the main portion, and a plurality of leaf springs extending transversely across the joint between said portions, said elements normally holding said portions in predetermined relation ship but permitting movement of said sill engaging portion relatively to the main portion upon contact of the sill engaging portion with the sill,

each of said springs having one end connected to said sill engaging portion, its other end adjustably connected to the main portion, and its midportion connected to said main portion adjacent the joint between the portions of said member.

6. A gate structure for dams comprising, in combination, a horizontally extending water impounding member adapted to be moved relatively to a horizontally extending stationary sill, said member having a main portion and a sill engaging portion movably connected to the lower edge of the main portion, and a plurality of leaf springs extending transversely across the joint between said portions, said elements normally holding said portions in predetermined relationship but permitting movement of said sill engaging portion relatively to the main portion upon contact of the sill engaging portion with the sill, each of said springs having one end connected to said sill engaging portion, its other end adjustably connected to the main portion, and its mid-portion connected to said main portion adjacent the joint between the portions of said member, the connection between the mid-portion of each spring and said main portion of the dam member comprising a fulcrum plate rigidly mounted on said main portion.

ARVID NORDIN. 

